Small

Recent trends in contemporary art have meant that we've grown accustomed to large scale pieces, be that huge canvases, enormous sculptures, or giant installations.

However, the miniature has always been an important part of contemporary art. Be it paintings, sculpture, or photography as well as small format drawings, the reduced dimensions of the artwork puts new constraints on the artist, forcing them to develop their techniques and artistic finesse.

Jeff Wall, an American photographer known for his large scale photographic prints on huge illuminated boxes, has said that “the scale of a piece is not about the dimensions of it, but about the internal tensions within the composition".

Believe it or not, miniature pieces have many advantages. Smaller formats allow the artists to show off a different range of talents and techniques, and sometimes even create the impression of a much higher quality piece – such as engravings or prints. Creating a miniature is a sure sign of precision and skill.

They are also more practical to exhibit than the enormous artworks: we've all got a little space on a shelf ready to welcome a miniature sculpture, photo or drawing.

Another very practical aspect of miniatures is the myriad possibilities for display: you could put together a full shelf of statuettes, or even a dedicated framing wall – which is an increasingly popular method for display, and makes for the perfect decorative addition to a living room or bedroom. It's a mixed composition made up of an array of pieces – you guessed it – all on the same wall. The diminutive size of the miniatures also makes it easier to make sure your favourite pieces are displayed in pride of place.

Even artists who are known for their monumental works are slowly getting into miniatures, like Jeff Wall in his exhibition at the Cartier Foundation.

The miniature is making a big name for itself as a growing trend across the contemporary art world; from Gaspard Mitz, who creates tiny versions of the interiors of famous art galleries in his 'Box Stories', to the photography of Samsofy, who recreates scenes from daily life with miniscule Lego 'actors'.

Last but not least, the small scale of the pieces means that even big names come with small price tags, meaning that miniatures make excellent presents. So, go on, what are you waiting for? Browse our selection of miniature works now…

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Subcategories

Small

Autoportrait

Cat is Very Smart

Laurie petite fille

Submission

Guerrier Himba

Femme en jaune - Portait de femme

Fafinette et Hmilo

Les quatre saisons au Japon "Les 3 japonais" - 2/8

Motion Alone

More Like This

Anecdote of the Light

Cosmos

Portait 8

Pop Singer

Silver night

Sans titre

Collage - 10

Reine noir

Les Belles Canapéennes 9

Dancer

Salle d'attente à l'hospice

Le souffle

Fillette

Parisienne III

Ulysse et sirène

Dwight Yoakam - San Antonio, Texas

Portrait

Portrait d'homme à la moustache

Flamenco dancer (Red)

Narciso

Mr. Bonaventura

Monamonroe

AWD XL Black

The secret garden of Donna Esmeralda

Bats toi, ne baisse pas les bras et tu seras libre N°2

Le Coquelicot P1

Solitude

Untitled

Jean Michel Basquiat Portrait

SAMOURAI Acteur de Kabuki

Llanto Piramidal

Au pays du soleil levant

Future

Sans-titre

Fail (applause)

See my potato sack (Marilyn)

Madame

Bolchoi XV

Amy

Roboïde Bart Simpson

Les paradis perdus #10

Tender Innocence

Untitled

A Little Fling

Tania's Kid

Sun family

Family 2

Trilobite God

Effeullier la marguerite

Björk

Armed Boy

Portrait

Interstellar

Madonna

Frédérica

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